Melanie Shellenbarger - Forever Wild, Forever Home: The Story of The Wild Animal Sanctuary of Colorado

Forever Wild, Forever Home: The Story of The Wild Animal Sanctuary of Colorado

Published by Pyree Square Publishing LLC

Copyright 2020 by Pyree Square Publishing LLC

All rights reserved. Neither this book, nor any parts within it may be sold or reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020946855

ISBN (hardcover): 9781662903199

ISBN (paperback): 9781662903205

eISBN: 9781662903212

Front cover: tiger Simon

Back cover clockwise from upper left: wolf Olivia; African lion Jupiter and his pride in the snow; black leopard Eddy; and grizzly bears Natasha and Tiny

For the tens of thousands of captive wild animals
who have yet to be rescued and given new homes

More Praise for
Forever Wild, Forever Home

This is the book we have been waiting forfor forty years.

Pat Craig, Sanctuary Founder and Executive Director

If you seek hope and compassion, look no further than this heartfelt and lovingly written story of healing and happiness. Both informed and inspiring, Forever Wild, Forever Home successfully balances the tragedy of the captive wildlife crisis with wild animal tales of triumph, peace, and joy and joy wins out. Read this wonderful inspirational bookand share it widely a win-win for all.

Marc Bekoff, Ph.D., author of The Ten Trusts (with Jane Goodall), The Animal Manifesto, Rewilding Our Hearts, and many other books

A beautifully presented and very engaging workmore than ever we really need a reminder that good people and good, charitable works existI would highly recommend Forever Wild, Forever Home to fans of inspirational stories, gorgeous photography, and to animal lovers everywhere.

Readers Favorite

From behind the scenes at a cutting-edge wildlife sanctuary the Shellenbargers reveal emotional, informative and important truths about the captive animal business, while setting an ethical and humane standard to which all animal sanctuaries must be held accountable. A must read for all animal lovers.

Lori Robinson, author of Saving Wild: Inspiration From 50 Leading Conservationists

Clean, tight, and inviting proseThe narrative is as comfortable as their love for the animals and desire to save themThis is a fantastic book that really warms the heartparticularly in the knowledge that the world is a better place because of this sanctuary.

Readers Favorite

Melanie and Mark Shellenbarger shine a much-needed spotlight on the exotic animal trade and its often disturbing and always disgusting consequencesThe Wild Animal Sanctuarys drive to save these extraordinary, beautiful animals one animal at a time will break your heart and then lift it up again. It should be read by every lover of animals and every person who has ever thought theres no harm in keeping these animals captive.

Barbara Bennett, author of Soul of a Lion: One Womans Quest to Rescue Africas Wildlife Refugees

In 2020, America got to know Joe Exotic and his exotic animal park thanks to the hit Netflix documentary series Tiger King. But what happens to animals when they are no longer owned by the Joe Exotics of the world? Melanie and Mark Shellenbarger offer this portrait of a very different kind of exotic animal facilitythe Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, ColoradoThe book chronicles the origins and operations of the sanctuary, including its many remarkable rescue stories, while also providing commentary on the current captive wildlife crisisA compelling, often surprising account of a Colorado wildlife sanctuary.

Kirkus Reviews

Thoroughly documented with research, interviews, firsthand accounts, and photographs, this book engages readers with its conversational but informative tone. They will feel as though they have been involved the sanctuary themselvesWildlife and large animal enthusiasts, environmentalists, and seasoned and amateur conservationists alike will find this book an engaging necessary read

U.S. Review of Books

[A] celebratory history Booklife

Winner Independent Publishers Book Award

Contents

H aving started my lifes work caring for lions, tigers, bears and other large exotic animals at the tender age of eighteen, I can easily say that I could never have imagined what would come of my efforts some forty years later. All I knew back then was someone needed to help the thousands of majestic creatures that were not only suffering but were also being euthanized on a regular basis.

In 1980, I believed I could simply make a call to the authorities and that my plea for help would inspire them to solve the problems affecting captive wildlife. My nave approach was quickly shot down and I realized that no one was willing to champion the lives of these animal. The only way they might be saved was if I would start rescuing them myself. So, I did.

Within a short amount of time, I was knee deep in big cats, bears and countless other large and dangerous carnivores. As seemingly straightforward as my initial voyage into a virtual sea of teeth and claws may have been, it wasnt long before I was rather harshly indoctrinated into the big cat school of hard knocks. While, fortunately, some of the initial animals I rescued were either quite young, or at least somewhat forgiving by nature, by making countless novice mistakes, I soon found myself racking up inordinate amounts of time at the local hospital emergency room. Although I feel I was blessed in many ways, my major lack of experience caught up with me and I was forced to realize how serious the business of saving large carnivores really was.

As the years flew by, I was fortunate, to not only stay alive, but also gain the help of many other concerned people who were just as passionate and committed as I was. With increasing public interest and resources, as well as an exceptionally dedicated team of caring people, The Wild Animal Sanctuary was able to grow exponentially in size and scope. From a determined, but tedious, one-man operation, the Sanctuary has become the largest and most prominent carnivore rescue operation in the world.

With a remarkable team of dedicated staff and volunteers, our Sanctuary has become the leader in captive wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and lifetime care. Working in partnership with numerous state and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as many of the top international animal welfare organizations in the world, we continue to rescue hundreds of animals each year from illegal or abusive situations.

The secret to our success came from and remains an unyielding commitment to the animals. We never stop trying to create a better life for every animal we rescue; that is the foundation of the Sanctuarys extraordinarily unique and powerful culture. Our team has remained unswerving in its dedication to my original promise to free animals from obsolete, and often horrific, cages and provide them with a life of dignity and respect. Through our efforts to continually buy more land and build larger and more natural habitats for the animals, we have pioneered a totally new way to house and care for captive wildlife.